According to research, approximately fifteen percent of the population experience anxiety disorders, of which teenage anxiety and teenage anxiety disorders is the fastest growing. There are a number of types of anxiety disorders that may be diagnosed depending on severity and symptoms, this section gives detail on the following types:
Generalised Anxiety Disorder
When teenagers experience excessive anxiety about two or more aspects in life, the anxiety disorder may be classified as Generalized.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Children and teens may experience anxiety at being separated from a parent or person they love. The anxiety experienced as a result of the separation or loss is Separation Anxiety. When this form of teenage anxiety becomes excessive, it is termed a disorder.
Overanxious Anxiety Disorder
Sometimes diagnosis of teenage anxiety is difficult because the cause cannot be suitably identified. When such anxiety persists, it is known as overanxious anxiety disorder.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Anxiety may start off as a natural form of concern or worry, but once the thoughts, mind images, and impulses become persistent, recurrent and obsessive, then the teen’s behaviour might alter to unreasonable, rigid and excessive patterns. These types of patterns are known as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The need to continually wash hands to feel better is an example.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Children or teens sometimes experience traumatic events that they either consciously or unconsciously relive through dreams, flashbacks, and play. The trauma may cause anxiety states that are triggered by certain events, circumstances, and memories. These triggers become a symbolic manifest of the trauma and the continued experience of the stress results in this form of anxiety disorder.
Other types of Anxiety Disorders include:
l Avoidant Disorder
l Social Phobia
l Simple Phobia
l Agoraphobia
l Panic Disorder
l Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia
Once a teen starts to exhibit changes in behavioural patterns that are identifiable and linked with anxiety, there is potential that the teen has a form of anxiety disorder. Qualified and experienced professionals are able to run diagnostic tests to identify if the teen has such a disorder. Following diagnosis, medical advice may be provided to improve the overall wellbeing of the teen sufferer.
